Rack and gear actuated clamp



Nov. 27, 1951 Filed May 1'7, 1948 A. SIMONSEN RACK AND GEAR ACTUATED CLAMP 2 S HEETS-SHEET 1 Arnold Simonsen JNVEN TOR.

Nov. '27, 1951 A..SIMONSEN 2,576,420

RACK AND GEAR ACTUATED CLAMP Filed May 17, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 2? Fig.6

Arno/d Simansen INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 27,3951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- f v BACK AND ACTUATED CLAMP Arnold Simonsen, SanFrancisco, Calif. Application Mayil'l, 1948, Serial'No. 27,478

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in clamps and more particularly to a C type clamp including a stationary and a movable jaw coacting therewith.

An important object of the invention is to provide rack and gear operating means for moving the movable jaw into and out of its clamping position and to further provide releasable operating means for the gear or pinion to permit a quick adjustment of the clamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a worm gear operating means for the pinion whereby to hold the movable jaw in its adjusted position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View;

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the pivoted form in pinion operating position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectiontal view showing the worm in disengaged posi- Figure 6 is a top plan view, and;

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking means for the worm.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a substantially channel shaped guide having a stationary jaw 6 suitably secured in the upper portion and at one end of the guide. A J-shaped movable jaw 1 includes a jaw face 8 at its curved end coacting with the stationary jaw 6 and a shank portion 9 slidable in the lower portion of guide 5.

A rack I is secured in a longitudinal position on the upper edge of shank 9 to a distance of approximately one half the width of the shank, the remaining upper surface of the shank 9 forming a track II with which a rear stationary guide block I2 is engaged together with a front roller I3 journaled in the guide on a transverse 2 Claims. (01. 144-403) pin I4 for traveling on the track II and to hold the shank against play in the guide 5 during its sliding movement.

A. pinion gear I5 is formed at one side with a worm gear I6 and journaled on a pin I'I transversely of the guide 5, the pinion being engaged with the rack H).

A worm I8 is provided with a shaft I9 which is journaled at its front end in a bearing collar 26 which is pivoted to the under side of stationary jaw 6 by a suitable type of hinge structure 2I. The rear end of the shaft projects rearwardly of the guide 5 and is formed with a manipulating knob 22. r

The worm I8 is swingable vertically into and out of engagement with the worm gear I6, the rear end of the shaft being engaged by a coil spring 23 seated on the guide block I2 to raise the worm I8 out of engagement with the worm gear and the worm is locked in its engaged position by a bearing 24 constructed substantially in the form of a yoke which straddles the rear end of shaft I9 and is pivoted on a transverse pin 25 journaled in the guide 5. One end of shaft 25 is provided with a lever 26 positioned outwardly at the side of the guide 5 and operated by a raising and lowering movement to swing the bearing I 24 into and out of engagement with the shaft I9.

In the operation of the device the shank 9 of movable jaw 8 is slidable in the lower portion of guide or housing 5 as indicated for movement toward and away from jaw 6.

By swinging lever 26 downwardly, bearing 24 is engaged with shaft I9 to swing worm I8 downwardly into its engaged position with worm gear I6 and the turning of knob 22 will operate the gears and rack and pinion to slide shank 9 inwardly in a direction to close jaw B. The worm I8 is constructed to operate in a direction to slide rack I9 and shank 9 rearwardly in a closing action of jaw 8 and the worm holds the shank and movable jaw in its closed position.

By raising lever 26 the bearing 24 is released from shaft I9 and spring 23 raises worm I8 to disengage worm gear I6 and the movable jaw 8 and shank 9 are free to slide in housing 5 to open the jaw or to provide a quick closing adjustment thereof. The jaws 6 and 8 may be constructed of metal or wood.

In View of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A clamp comprising a channel guide, a movable jaw including a rack slidable irr the guide, a fixed jaw secured to the guide, a gear in said guide between said rack and fixed jaw for operating said rack, a drive for said gear comprising a driving worm in said guide between, said gear and fixed jaw rotatably and pivotally attached to the fixed jaw for swinging into andout of driving position, a worm shafitzextending from said worm out of said guide for manipulation to swing and rotatesaid worm, a guide block for said rack fixed in said guide in sliding engagementwith said rack, and; a spring seated; in the block and engaging said shaiit to, normally swing said worm out of drivingposition.

2a A clampaccording to claim 8; wherein a, lever equipped pivoted bearing for said shaft is provided in said guide for swinging against said shaft to swing said worm into driving position in opposition to said spring and to maintain said worm and gear in engagement.

ARNOLD SIMONSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of? this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 5,29,57,65. Weyhe Nov. 27, 1894 656,410 Larsen Aug. 21, 1900 1,025,431 Szabados May '7, 1912 1,912,315, vConte Sept. 2, 1913 1,527,996' Pi-ro Mar. 3, 1925 LQQZflS?! Graf et a1 July 13, 1926 2,321,911 Heaton -1: June 15, 19 3 FOREIGN; PATENTS:

Number Country Date 46,4-7-3 Switzerland Jan, 9, 1909 

